Westchester Sewer Stakeholder Notification Law Approved

The Peekskill Wastewater Treatment Plant (commonly referred to as the sewage treatment plant) has always been an important facility for the residents of the Hollowbrook Water District. The importance stems from the ability to remove parcels using private septic systems to being hooked into the sewer district and have their waste treated at the plant. Thus protecting the extensive web of tributaries that make up the Peekskill water supply.

The plant’s capacity was designed specifically to accommodate the land parcels within the Hollowbrook Watershed. Other such plants were constructed around the county specifically designed for similar purposes in other watersheds such as the Croton Watershed. These plants are owned and operated by the County of Westchester with the exception of a few facilities remaining privately owned and operated.

Legislator Testa at a recent tour of the Peekskill plant

Although the county owns the Peekskill plant, the City has an obligation to the residents in the area to oversee the condition and capacity usage of the plant. As Mayor and now as County Legislator I have requested and initiated millions of dollars of upgrades to improve the efficiency of the plant and especially to mitigate the odors that can emanate from the plant. This can be especially problematic to those residences nearby.

The issue of capacity is a concern for all municipalities that are serviced by the Peekskill plant, as it will directly impact new development. When I was Mayor of Peekskill from 2002-07 we had a tremendous amount of new development and investment in the city that caused us to keep a close eye on the usage of the plant. Although this is not the issue the last 4-5 years for Peekskill there has been considerable new development outside of Peekskill but within the sewer district. It’s only fair that all municipalities involved monitor and notify each other of proposed projects that would need to use the plant’s capacity.

Legislator Testa speaking with the plant supervisor and county engineer while touring the Peekskill plant.

A lack of communication and a misunderstanding of the limitations of the sewer district have caused considerable tension between neighboring municipalities. Some of these tensions could have been avoided with simple communication and inclusion.

Earlier this year I introduced Legislation at the County Board of Legislators that will ensure municipalities throughout Westchester will be better coordinated and informed about the expansion of the local sewer districts that are shared by our communities. On Monday June 3^rd at the regular meeting of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, (BOL) the Sewer Stakeholder Notification Law was passed by a unanimous 17-0 vote.

The lack of notification across the municipalities that share sewer infrastructure has been a problem in Westchester for decades. Capacity issues and the protection of the water supply have caused concerns, which have resulted in inter-municipality friction. In my view the county has the responsibility to make sure all affected municipalities are notified of significant projects in the district so they may comment, plan and be involved in the process from the onset. The SEQRA requirement doesn’t always accomplish that. This law does.

Signing on as a cosponsor Legislator Catherine Borgia said, “As a former Town Supervisor of Ossining, I know how important it is for municipalities to share complete information to facilitate good decision making. I applaud Legislator Testa’s common sense law and am happy to cosponsor this legislation.”

The new law requires that any legislative body of any city, town or village in Westchester County considering a resolution to petition the BOL to enlarge an existing sewer district by adding any commercial development of 25,000 square feet or more or the addition of ten residences or more must provide written notification to all the municipalities located within that sewer district or that share a County sewage treatment plant with the affected district.

About John G. Testa

Former District 1 County Legislator, John G. Testa is served five terms at the Westchester County Board of Legislators, spending the last 3 terms as BOL Minority Leader. John G. Testa is a lifelong resident of Peekskill who first entered elected public service as a member of the Peekskill Common Council in 1998 and then served three terms as Mayor. He previously served on the Conservation and Parks Advisory Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. John became an elected official eager to improve the City in which his family has lived for more than a century and quickly earned a reputation as a strong, independent, nonpartisan voice for fiscal responsibility. John received a BS degree in Technology from SUNY Oswego, where his academic achievements gained him induction into Epsilon Pi Tau, the International Honorary Fraternity of Technology. He earned his MS degree in Technology from the City College of New York. He began his teaching career in 1980 at Peekskill High School, his alma mater, as an instructor in Technology and Social Studies, retiring in 2013 after 33 years teaching. John has been a leader in support for the Arts Community in Westchester. He presided over the construction of the Peekskill Art Lofts, the establishment of the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, and the complete restoration of the Paramount Center for the Arts, originally a 1930’s movie house and helped bring critical funding to many Westchester programs. Legislator Testa received the “Advancing the Arts in Westchester Award” by ArtsWestchester. John has a been a leader on environmental issues for two decades and has a long record of initiatives he has supported and spearheaded. His active involvement in developing and promoting environmentally friendly policies began as mayor and continued throughout his time as Westchester County Legislator. His efforts consistently earned John the endorsement of the NY League of Conservation Voters. John’s most recognizable accomplishment has been his promotion and preservation of local history and historic landmarks, bringing an unprecedented focus on the region’s rich history, and its legacy of historic Victorian architecture. His roots in historical preservation stem from his experience as a Revolutionary War re-enactor and member of The Brigade of the American Revolution for 50 years. John was instrumental in securing the preservation of the Lincoln Depot, now the Lincoln Depot Museum, where he now serves as President. The museum was recognized in 2015 as one of The Best Museums in Westchester. He also secured the preservation of historic Fort Hill as parkland, a 40-acre parcel that was originally a Revolutionary War encampment site. Under his leadership, the United States Dept. of the Interior declared Peekskill a “Preserve America Community.” John was able to establish a record number of National Register designations of local structures, including the first Downtown and Neighborhood Historic Districts and supported the preservation of the historic Miller House in North White Plains. In 2017 John was named a “Champion of History” by the Lincoln Society in Peekskill. John and his wife of 37 years, Nancy, live in Peekskill and have two adult children, John, Jr. (fiancé Courtney Kelly) and Katy (husband Mike Mearon). John and Nancy recently welcomed the arrival of their first grandchild, Lacey Mae, in 2019.

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